Men and Women and Sports Equality

Yeah...that's an interesting question, especially the "separate but equal" angle. If you google "Title IX", you'll get plenty to read on that subject.

I think in the case of pre-pubescent boys and girls, there's really no discernable difference between body weight and strength between the two sexes, so if boys and girls compete together in soccer, baseball or martial arts, I personally don't see an issue.

Sports, obviously, are divided along gender lines and I believe that as long as those divisions exist, it's probably best if girls and boys compete separately. For example, I'm guessing most girls wouldn't want to swim against boys when an equal opportunity exists for them to compete against girls. In your TdF example, there exists a tdF feminin. It is however, shorter than the male version.

But if opportunities don't exist for girls--HS football comes to mind--girls should be allowed to compete with boys, if they can meet whatever performance standards exist. I don't think there are a lot of women who are strong enough to race on a fist-categor pro cycling team, as an example.

achoo

Yeh, what Jim said.

Growing up, I always wanted to play little league baseball (this was before gender mixed teams) but wasn't allowed to. I had to wait until the 4th grade before I was old enough to join a softball team. That sucked.

But whenever there was a girl's team, I preferred that. I played soccer in HS and could not imagine playing against the boys. That would not have been fun.

As I stated in the other thread, for professional level sports (especially endurance based ones) unless you handicap the field in some way there will never be parity based on gender.  It is genetically impossible.

Yes, there are genetic "freaks" on both sides of the equation that make the borders fuzzy, but the average male pro endurance athlete will always finish a good 5 - 10% faster than the average female pro.

Using IMs and Marathons as an example.  The typical male marathoner will be in the 2:10 - 2:15 range.  The top females are lucky to crack 2:20 with most in the 2:25 range.  The typical male IM distance pro triathlete will be in the 8:30 - 8:40 range.  The absolute cream of the crop for the women rarely break 8:50.

Why would a woman at the top of her game not want to compete with her equals and prove she is the best?  Why would a women go into the race knowing they cannot beat the top level male competitors?  What is there to prove??

That is part of the reason I don't understand the whole Michelle Wie (sp.) thing with pro golf tourneys.  Annaka Sorenstam gave it a shot because she wanted to see how she would stack up and if she could make the cut.  But she knew she wouldn't "win" the tourney.  People seem to come accross thinking Michelle Wie will win a PGA tourney.  Just doesn't make sense to me.

Also, to add a different spin on this.  In the example where a girls version is not available the girl should be able to go out for the football team.  I agree with this.  But what if a boy wants to participate in a sport that is only offered to girls? 

Should that be allowed as well? 

You are right, it is the complete package that wins the competition.  There is physical ability involved (in traning and competing) and perhaps the combination of physical strength and mental component of the sport lends itself well to providing an even playing field for men and women.  Back to the original post and the pure physical strength required, and lets say the horses are the true athletes,  in this sport mares, geldings and stallions all compete together :) 

I think this is the Lifetime Fitness Tri in Minneapolis (at least, that's what was on TV last fall) where the pro-women got a head start. 

Like I (or any other dad) am going to encourage Little Mac to pursue field hockey or the balance beam.  Puhleeze....

I guess you could level the playing field by having requirements to qualify for events, teams, etc and whoever falls into those perameters can compete against and/or with one another no matter what their sex is.

I would imagine that couldn't apply to all sports (like boxing), but it could to most.

Plus, in the professional arena, men sell better than women, so I don't know if women could be successful on a man's team.  It's just the way society sees sports....as a masculine entity, IMHO. 

I'm all for anyone doing anything they want, BTW!! 

Or, synchronized swimming?

I believe at one time there actually was a Tour de France for women,  and ironically it was called the "Tour de France feminine."  They still may be running it, but if they do, I have not heard anything about it.  It did not attract much in the way of spectator support, certainly not like the male version.

When my youngest son played street hockey, the teams were co-ed up until around age 13 or so, then were divided by gender.  In fact, the best player on my son's team was a girl who could run circles around all the guys in the league and she was the top scorer as well.

I guess I go along with everyone who suggested that as long as there is not a physical advantage based on general size, strength, or power, then why not let women and men compete on an equal footing. 

How else are you going to justify going to their practice and watching them in the plaid skirts?  If I have a son...he is totally going out for field hockey!